Billy L. Moore (67) was born on October 18, 1958, at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital to Bill L. Moore and Janice (Loos)Moore. Billy spent most of his life in the area he loved, surrounded by family, friends, country roads, old treasures, and the people God placed in his life.

Billy worked many years as a truck driver, a career that suited him well because he never minded a long road, a good story, or stopping to admire something old and rusty that most people would have driven right past. If it was antique, unusual, or looked like it belonged in a barn from 1942, Billy probably wanted to bring it home. He especially loved old family photographs and researching his ancestry, preserving pieces of history that others might have forgotten.

On June 21, 1985, Billy married Theresa Wilson, the love of his life and faithful partner in ministry, family, and adventure. Together they built a life centered on faith, hospitality, and serving others.

The defining moment of Billy's life came in April of 1994, when a local pastor began traveling through the countryside sharing the Gospel from house to house. At first, Billy was resistant to hearing the message. Theresa became a believer first, and before long, through the faithful sharing of the Gospel, Billy put his faith in Jesus Christ believing in His death, burial and resurrection for his salvation. That transformation became the greatest and most radical change of his life, and Billy never stopped thanking God for it.

After coming to faith, Billy dedicated his life to loving others, sharing the Gospel, and "rightly dividing the word of truth." He and Theresa opened not just their home, but their entire lives to children and families every single weekend for years. On Fridays after school, they would gather up kids, not in a kidnapper van kind of way- nut kids from both sides of their families, bring them to their place in the country, hold devotions Friday night, spend Saturdays fishing, playing in ponds, building forts, exploring outdoors, and enjoying life together, followed by Bible study with co-laborers in Christ and church on Sunday before returning everyone safely home. Week after week, year after year, Billy faithfully planted seeds of faith, showed agape love, and pointed countless children and families toward Christ.

Billy loved deeply and lived simply. He enjoyed hunting, talking about guns, sharing stories, and making what many would argue was the best deer jerky ever created. Some believe the secret recipe should probably be classified and locked away for future generations. He never met a stranger for long, and if you spent enough time around him, there was a good chance you left with a Bible lesson, an old collectible, some jerky, or all three.

More than anything, Billy treasured being surrounded by believers who loved one another with genuine agape love and a shared desire to know and teach the truth of God's Word. His life was a testimony that the Gospel changes people completely, and Billy would want everyone reading this to know that salvation through Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever offered. Salvation- knowing that you are a sinner and that you do not EARN your way to heaven, but you believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on a cross for your sins and that He was buried and risen again and the payment for your sins was made in FULL. No earning necessary just belief- resting in His payment.

Though his family and friends grieve his passing, they rejoice knowing Billy is now with the Savior he loved and served so faithfully. We can only imagine the joy of hearing the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Billy will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and joyfully reunited with those who know Christ.

In memory of Billy memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." — 2 Corinthians 5:17